India, rising power demand and the ‘hydrogen factor’
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Energy
Source: TH
Context: India’s energy experts have stressed the importance of integrating hydrogen production and nuclear power to meet rising energy demand.
India’s Energy Goals:
• Net Zero Target by 2070: India aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, requiring massive shifts in energy systems.
• 500 GW from Non-Fossil Sources by 2030: India plans to install 500 GW of non-fossil capacity (solar, wind, nuclear, hydro).
• Nuclear Energy Expansion: Government aims for 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 to meet base-load requirements.
• Green Hydrogen Mission: Focus on using renewable electricity for green hydrogen to decarbonise industries.
• Electrification of End-Use Sectors: Transition to electric vehicles, heat pumps, and electric furnaces to cut fossil fuel dependency.
Reasons for Rising Energy Demand in India:
• Economic Growth Aspirations: India targets to become a developed economy, increasing energy use across sectors.
E.g. Per capita electricity use expected to triple by 2040.
• Population Growth and Urbanisation: Expanding cities and middle-class lifestyle adoption are intensifying energy needs.
E.g. Urban energy use per capita is double that of rural India.
• Industrial Decarbonisation: Transitioning steel, cement, and fertilizer sectors to clean inputs raises electricity demand.
E.g. Hydrogen replacing coal in iron ore reduction.
• Digital and Automation Push: Data centres, smart infrastructure, and AI systems require constant power supply.
E.g. IT and digital economy’s share in energy demand growing rapidly.
• Climate Adaptation Needs: More cooling, irrigation, and disaster mitigation require reliable electricity.
E.g. Power needed for flood pumps, drought irrigation, and cooling appliances.
Existing Solutions to Rising Demand:
• Renewable Energy Expansion: Solar, wind, and hydro projects have grown significantly in capacity.
• Base-Load Nuclear Power: Nuclear offers reliable, low-carbon electricity to complement intermittent sources.
• Battery Storage Systems: Used to store solar/wind energy for non-generating hours.
• Electrolyser-Based Hydrogen Production: Uses surplus electricity to produce green hydrogen for industries.
• Flexing Coal Plants Temporarily: Coal-fired plants are adjusted to balance renewable inputs during peak solar hours.
Challenges Faced by Existing Solutions:
• Intermittency of Renewables: Solar and wind can’t provide round-the-clock supply
E.g. Solar only works during daytime; wind is seasonal.
• Flexing Nuclear Is Cost-Inefficient: Nuclear has high capital cost and low marginal cost, making flexing uneconomical.
E.g. Variable costs remain same even at lower output.
• Battery Storage Still Expensive: Large-scale battery deployment faces cost and material challenges.
E.g. Lithium and rare-earth supply risks.
• Separate Treatment of Hydrogen & Storage: Hydrogen and electricity storage are treated as different systems, reducing synergy.
E.g. Parallel setups increase overall infrastructure cost.
• Lack of Clear Hydrogen Taxonomy: Green hydrogen is currently defined only through renewables, excluding nuclear.
E.g. Nuclear-based hydrogen is low-carbon but not officially “green.”
Way Ahead: Hydrogen as Solution
• Redefine Green Hydrogen as Low-Carbon: Adopt carbon threshold-based taxonomy to include nuclear-based hydrogen.
E.g. <2 kg CO₂/kg H₂ criterion aligns nuclear with green label.
• Synergise Hydrogen with Storage Systems: Combine electrolyser-based hydrogen and battery storage for economic efficiency.
E.g. Reduces need for curtailment and standalone batteries.
• Accelerate Nuclear Deployment: Invest in faster roll-out of PHWRs and BSRs using indigenous tech.
E.g. NPCIL’s 26-unit plan under execution.
• Incentivise Industrial Hydrogen Use: Encourage fertiliser, steel, and transport sectors to switch to green/low-carbon hydrogen.
E.g. Use surplus grid power to feed hydrogen electrolyzers during off-peak.
• Strengthen Grid Flexibility Tools: Deploy AI-based demand response and grid balancing systems.
E.g. Smart metering and load shaping via digital platforms.
Conclusion:
India’s path to clean energy leadership lies in integrating low-carbon nuclear, renewables, and hydrogen solutions efficiently. Synergising electricity storage and hydrogen can balance intermittent power and ensure round-the-clock clean energy. With the right policy push and strategic reforms, India can lead the global energy transition sustainably.
PYQ:
• With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy (UPSC-2018)